World news summaries — Page 9
Essential facts and source links for recent world stories.
-
Saudi Arabia seeks fee-free, unrestricted Hormuz passage under prewar rules
At the UN General Debate, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said the Strait of Hormuz must return to its pre-February 28 status, without fees or restrictions. He also called for free navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. -
Police seize Whitefield e-bike they say could reach 50 mph
Greater Manchester Police seized an e-bike in Whitefield after local residents raised concerns about e-bikes and e-scooters. Officers said the bike had a concealed throttle and could reach 50 mph, but did not explain how that speed was established. -
Two Preston sinkholes remain unexplained as Orchard Street work stays paused
Two sinkholes on Preston’s Orchard Street remain unexplained after surveys by councils and United Utilities. The first appeared on 23 July, halting renovation work; a larger one opened last week. Work will resume once a solution and course of action are agreed. -
Worcester cyclist dies; 17-year-old arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving
West Mercia Police said a 17-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving after a man in his 60s died in a collision between a car and a cyclist on Worcester’s A4440 Swinesherd Way at about 22:15 BST Friday. She is helping police with inquiries. -
Thembisa discovery brings count of women’s bodies near Johannesburg to 10
A woman’s body found in Thembisa on Saturday was the 10th found near Johannesburg since mid-July. Police chief Tommy Mthombeni said she appeared to have been stoned to death; a post-mortem will determine the cause. Police are checking for links, but none are confirmed. -
Misfiled Australian document sheds light on Welsh revolt leader Lewis Lewis
A misfiled Australian record adds details about Lewis Lewis, who led workers in the 1831 Merthyr Rising in Wales. It records his sudden death in 1847 while he was a farm labourer; researcher Rhodri Johns is fairly confident he died in Kempsey. -
Vatican cites 800,000 at Leo XIV’s Paris Mass
Pope Leo XIV celebrated an open-air Mass at Paris’s Place de la Concorde on Saturday, the centerpiece of his France visit; the Vatican put attendance at 800,000, citing French authorities. In his homily, he urged people to trust in God and pass on their faith. -
Hyundai says Raja Ampat nickel is absent from its EVs
Hyundai says it does not use—and does not plan to use—nickel from Indonesia’s Raja Ampat in its EVs. Greenpeace framed the announcement as “people power” and said public pressure influenced Indonesia’s 2025 move to cancel four of the region’s five mining permits. -
Visitors return to Rome’s Colosseum as accident site stays cordoned off
Rome’s Colosseum reopened to visitors after a three-day closure following the death of a 22-year-old worker who fell 10 metres while installing lighting early Wednesday. The cause remains unclear; about 10 square metres around the accident site remain cordoned off. -
Unions report 175,000 at German protests over planned spending cuts
About 175,000 people joined demonstrations in 15 German cities on Saturday, the German Trade Union Confederation said, opposing planned spending cuts and proposed changes to working hours and pensions; union leaders warned against cuts to social protections. -
Athens House Explosion Kills at Least Six; Reports Say Four Were American
An explosion just before 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, collapsed a house in Athens’ Plaka, killing at least six, reportedly including four Americans, a British man and his Greek wife. The cause is under investigation; the mayor said a gas leak was likely. -
Athens blast kills six in Plaka; four victims reportedly American
An explosion in Athens’ Plaka neighborhood killed six people and injured three; four victims were reportedly American. Greek media said they were a couple, their son and his girlfriend. Officials said a gas leak was possible, but the cause is unknown. -
Lavrov and Wadephul meet for first talks since before Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion
Russia’s Sergei Lavrov and Germany’s Johann Wadephul held their first talks since before the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine at the UN General Assembly on Saturday. Wadephul urged Russia to reach a Black Sea grain-export deal as exports remained sharply curtailed. -
UN meeting may mark Wadephul and Lavrov’s first one-on-one since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine
German and Russian foreign ministers Johann Wadephul and Sergey Lavrov met on U.N. sidelines Saturday, in what was believed to be their first one-on-one since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Wadephul said improved ties required Russia’s genuine willingness to end the war. -
German rallies against planned government spending cuts draw 175,000, unions say
German unions put turnout at 175,000 for Saturday protests against planned government spending cuts, calling for a strong welfare state. Union leader Yasmin Fahimi criticized proposed pension and working-hours reforms and warned of cuts to social security benefits. -
10th woman's body found near Johannesburg as police probe killings
South African police said Saturday that a woman's body found near Johannesburg brought the number of victims in killings under investigation to 10. They have identified similarities in some cases but found no conclusive evidence that the same person or people were responsible. -
Sydney boy, 11, dies three days after shooting; one suspect charged with concealment
Isaac Bechara, 18, was charged with concealing a serious indictable offense and denied bail after an 11-year-old Sydney boy died Sept. 24, three days after being shot in the face. Two other 18-year-old men arrested were released pending investigation. -
Zelensky reports civilian deaths in Russian strikes, urges tougher sanctions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian strikes killed two in Zaporizhzhya and wounded 14 nationwide Saturday; officials also reported at least two dead in Sumy and two in Dnipro. He urged the US and EU to impose tougher sanctions on Russia. -
Leanne Park’s family pays tribute as Darlington murder inquiry continues
Leanne Park’s family says she was “loved by everyone” after she was pronounced dead in Parkgate, Darlington, on Wednesday. A 44-year-old man remains in custody on suspicion of murder; a 27-year-old arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been bailed. -
Wadephul and Lavrov’s first bilateral meeting since 2022 lasts just over 20 minutes
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met in New York on Saturday for their first bilateral meeting since Russia’s war against Ukraine began in 2022. It lasted just over 20 minutes; the topics were not initially known. -
European ministers consider emergency rules and faster migrant returns
Seventeen interior ministers from the EU and Britain met in Munich on Saturday to discuss tighter border controls, faster emergency responses and expedited returns for some migrants. The talks followed the EU migration and asylum pact’s implementation in June. -
Red Arrows return to displays after grounding earlier this week
The Red Arrows flew a display at RAF Coningsby on Saturday, returning after a grounding earlier in the week. The RAF paused Hawk training as a precaution after a T2 jet crashed in Wales; two pilots ejected before impact and were treated for minor injuries. -
About 900 join Newcastle’s two-day River Tyne dragon boat races
About 900 people took part in Newcastle’s two-day dragon boat races, where dozens of boats competed before thousands of spectators. Organised by NE1, the event raises money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation; official attendance and fundraising figures are pending. -
The US stands out for AI anxiety in Gallup-Microsoft survey
A Gallup-Microsoft survey of 37 countries found curiosity was the top emotion associated with AI. Gallup CEO Jon Clifton described overall sentiment as overwhelmingly positive, while saying the US stood out for higher anxiety. Data from nearly 140 countries is still to come. -
Russia and Ukraine report at least 16 strike deaths over 24 hours
Russia and Ukraine reported at least 16 deaths from strikes in 24 hours. Kyiv said Russian attacks killed at least six in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions; Russian authorities and Moscow-appointed officials reported 10 deaths in Russia and occupied Ukrainian areas. -
Winds fan Haruvit Forest fire into treetops; six aircraft dispatched
Maariv reported a Saturday fire in Haruvit Forest near Kiryat Malachi, with six firefighting aircraft and ground crews battling flames fanned into the treetops by winds. Police asked the public to avoid the area, saying nearby communities were not in danger. -
Heidenau votes to ban Stolpersteine plaques honoring Nazi victims
Councillors from the AfD and CDU in Heidenau, near Dresden in Saxony, voted to ban Stolpersteine—brass plaques commemorating Nazi victims—from the town’s streets. The motion says future memorials should go at Nordfriedhof cemetery, where people cannot step on them. -
Police revisit Putney Bridge CCTV in unsolved Jill Dando murder case
Police are re-examining 1999 CCTV from Putney Bridge station in the unsolved murder of Jill Dando using improved enhancement technology. The Met says this review is part of ongoing inquiries, not a new investigation or a significant line of inquiry.
